FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT: Canadian Non-Governmental Organizations Assisting with Emergency Management and Responses

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, announced $150 million for the Supporting a Humanitarian Workforce to Respond to COVID-19 and Other Large-Scale Emergencies (HWF) program to support both capacity building and domestic response resources to four of Canada’s top emergency management NGOs.

To date, the Government of Canada has provided more than $78 million to the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, The Salvation Army, and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) through this investment. This funding has allowed these organizations to mobilize in response to emerging events more quickly and deploy critical on-the-ground support to provincial, territorial and local governments.

In 2022-23, the program will continue to provide funding for these organizations to build their capacity, hire staff, rapidly deploy to areas impacted by emergencies, and fund deployments in response to RFAs that may arise. With this funding, organizations will continue to maintain a highly skilled and qualified group of emergency responders and emergency management professionals, will help fund the development of emergency management systems, deliver top-tier training, and acquire some equipment needed for rapid mobilization.

“SARVAC is honoured to be an integral part of the Humanitarian Workforce Program, along with other NGO’s. This program and its federal support will allow us to provide emergency assistance to communities in need across Canada for many years to come.”

— Janelle Coultes, President, Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada

Read the full press release:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2022/05/government-of-canada-funds-ngos-to-build-capacity-respond-to-emergencies-and-keep-communities-safe.html